Stenciling machine



Sept. 11, 1928.

L. A. THATCHER STENCILING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wren/0r:

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A/mmey- Se t. 11, 1928.

L. A. THATCHER STENCILING MACHINE Filed arch 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Aim Af/ame Sept. 11, 1928.

L. A. THATCHER STENCILING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet I Af/Wny.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDEN A. THATCHER, BELLEVILLE, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '1O UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOEATION OF DELAWARE.

STENCILING IACHINE.

Application filed March 5, 1927. Serial No. 172,975.

rotation of the cylinder and prior to the feeding of the work-sheet to the stenciling position. To properly time the coaction of the supplemental feed-rollers to the withdrawal of the paper-stops without buckling the sheet and otherwise interfering with the feed thereof, the actuation must be practically instantaneous and requires a fine, careful adjustment of the co-ope'rating parts. This adjustment is diflicult to maintain for an ex.-

" tended period of time. I

One feature of the present invention includes swingable supplemental sheet-feeding elements that carry a plurality of leading-in aper-stops for the sheet, which, in swingin 1n sheet-feeding direction about an axis, will naturally clear themselves from the leading edge of the feeding sheet by swinging out pf the straight plane of the sheet. The

paper-stops moving in unison with the sheetfeeding elements, provide sheet-gaging means that are effective after the paper-feeding movement is in progress, remove any possibility of the sheet becoming accidentally displaced during the withdrawal of the stops, as heretofore, remove any possibility of the stops interfering with the timing of the initial feed of the sheet towards the stenciling position, and avoid-all final adjustments in timing two separate and independently-actuated mechanisms for a joint operation. A simple unchangeable final adjustment during the factory assembly of the parts is provided that requires no subsequent readjustments of the paper-stops to the sheet-feeding elements, which is an improvement over the prior art, and which is also an important feature in a mechanism operated by ofiice employees who naturally are not skilled in making such adjustments.

In some prior machines the platen-roller, is normally inoperative to the stenciling cylinder and requires mechanism operable by the rotating cylinder to bring the roller and cylinder into co-operation at each stenciling operation, and where the cylinder-driven platen-roller further operates to drive the train of connecting mechanisms to the supplemental feed rolls, the timing between the cylinder and its friction-driven roller is liable tobecomedisarranged, and to prevent this disarrangement between these two rotating elements, the platen-roller must operate under considerable tension or be positively connected by a train of gearing which adds to she burden of manually operating the cylin- It is proposed in the present invention that the platen-roller be held in operative engage-- ment with the cylinder at all times except when the machine is not in use: that the platen-roller will have nothing to do but feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position; that the working tension of the roller against the cylinder will be light.v and the manual power required to rotate the cylinder to stencil the sheet will be correspondingly reduced; that the cylinder will have a free initial rotation between a normal stop-position of rest and a stenciling position, to provide motion derived from the rotating cylinder to actuate the supplemental work-sheet feed prior to to prevent the cylinder being rotated sufliciently to bring the inked stencil into soiling contact with the platen-roller; that the back stop provides a normal fixed position of rest for the cylinder. and leaves nothing for guess-work as to the position of the cylinder when the work-sheet is adiusted to the stoppins: that while a complete cycle of the cylind er is required of each stenciling movement, the motion derived therefrom to actuate the supplemental work-sheet feed is partial or intermittent, and the useless actuation of these feeding parts after they have performed their sheet-inserting function is avoided; that this intermittent movement is derived from a comparatively short gear-sector adjustably attached to the cylinder to rotate a pinion the length of the toothed sector and automatically limiting the rotation of the pinion to a single cycle; that the supplemental sheet-feeding elements are reciprocable through each cycle of the pinion, the sheetfeeding elements being operative in one direction to feed and inoperative to feed in a reverse or return direction through the action of a cam rotated by the pinion; that by the time the cylinder has brought the stenciling element into engagement with the worksheet, the supplemental feeding elements have become automatically disconnected from the cylinder movement and the cylinder for the remainder of its cycle is free from all incumbrance except to feed the sheet through the stenciling position, which not only saves wear upon the actuated parts but transforms a heretofore noisy mechanism into a comparatively guiet stencil operation; and that all these eatures are made possible through a comparatively small number of parts, condensed within a small space and requiring no periodical readjustments.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a duplicating machine constructed and arranged according to my invention, with some of the parts and portions of the frame broken away.

Figure 2 is a partial view of the parts, in perspective, illustrating the sheet-feeding sectors and their train of connections to the driving mechanism on the cylinder, shown in broken lines.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, in section, taken through a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, are operational views, showing the relative relation of the parts during the different stages of stencillng the work-sheet.

Figure 4 shows the position of the parts after the work-sheet has been inserted between the supplemental feeding elements and against the leading-in stops with the cylinder rotated slightly forward to bring the first tooth of the gear-sector on the cylinder into engagement with the tooth of the pinion, and the pinion-driven cam actuating the camlever to raise the sectors into feeding engagement with the work-sheet.

Figure 5 shows the parts advanced-t0 a point where the leading-in stops have been withdrawn from the edge of the sheet and safety pawls housed within the sectors have been vibrated through the engagement of trailers against the under surface of the work sheet operable to swing the pawls clear of a stop-bar secured to the frame.

Figure 6 shows the parts advanced to a point where the leading edge of the worksheet is passed between the cylinder and the platen-roller to be fed thereby, and the pinion-actuated cam has released the cam-lever to lower the sheet-feeding sectors out of feeding engagement with the sheet so that the sheet is free from this point to be drawn freely between the two supplemental feeding elements bv the cylinder.

Figure 7 shows the sheet-feeding sectors restored to normal positions as at the end of the pinions cycle, with the leading-in stops deflected by their engagement with the under surface of the work-sheet.

Figure 8 shows the cylinder idly rotated forwardly without a work-sheet, with the sheet-controlling safety pawl engaging the stop-bar to prevent a further rotation of the cylinder that would bring the edge of the inked stencil into soiling contact with the surface of the platen-roller.

The frame of the machine includes two upright side frames 10 and 11 joined together at the base by front and rear cross-bars 12 and 13, respectively, and provided with four rubber feet 14. The side frame 11 terminates at a hub 15 rovided with a stud 16 projecting inwarc ly to provide a bearing for the rotatable cylinder 17 that includes a webbed head 18 at one end that takes a center bearing upon the stud 16, and an open annular head 19 at the opposite end formed with a peripheral track 20 that rides upon three anti-friction rolls 21 carried by the side frame 10, said rolls being disposed so that the weight of this end of the cylinder will be carried by a lower center roll 21, and the cylinder held in aligned position by the two upper rolls 21 secured to extension arms of the side frame end 11. The two cylinder-heads 18 and 19 are conditioned to be joined by a sheet-metal cylindrical section 22 formed with perforations, in a conventional manner, to supply inkto a fabric covering on the outer face of the cylinder.

The cylinder as a unit may be withdrawn from the machine by the manual release of suitable cylinder-retaining means well known in the art.

The supply side of the machine is at the left side of Figure 1, and the cylinder is rotat able in a counterclockwise direction to carry a work-sheet to the delivery side at the rear of the machine. Manual cylinder-rotating means includes a handle 23 secured to a carrier 24 slidably mounted on the side of the annularhead 19 and secured by clamp-screws 25. Means to arrest the cylinder at the end of each revolution includes two stop-lugs26 and 27 forming a part of the carrier 24, and a co-operative pallet 28 that includes two against a stop-pin 29 by a spring 30. During the stenciling rotation of the cylinder, the lug 27 engages and cams the stop-arm 31 outwardly to vibrate the stop-arm 32 inwardly into the path of the advanced lug 26 to arrest 7 the cylinder. The stop-arm 32 will hold its engagement with the lug 26' until pressure is removed from the handle 23 when the spring 30 will restore the pallet 28 to its normal position against the pin 29, and the stop-arm 31 thereof will shift to the position of Figure 1 to intercept the lug 27 against a reverse rotation of the cylinder. It is obvious under these conditions that the cylinder is locked against rotation in a clockwise direction, but there is nothing to prevent the cylinder from having a counterclockwise rotation, and nothing to prevent the inked stenciling element, when rotated without a work-sheet,

from soiling the face of the platen-roller 33.

If, however, it is desirable at any time to rotate the cylinder in a clockwise direction, a finger-piece 28 is provided forthe pawl to withdraw the arm 31 from the path of-the stop-lug 27.

The platen-roller 33 is positioned directly under the axis of the cylinder 17 and is always in rolling-contact therewith throughout its length during a stenciling period. This roller 33 may have the usual soft, pliable body carried by a shaft 34, projecting through each end of the roller and provided with rollerbearingswithin the free end of each arm 35,

which arms are mounted upon a stationary rod 36 and held against displacement thereon between bosses 37 on the frame and pins 38 passing through the rod.

It will be understood that the bearings in the arms for the ends of the shaft 34 are open at the top, so that the platen-roller 33 may be readily removed for cleaning or other purposes.

Each arm 35 may be formed with an ear 39 to provide end bearings for a cross-rod 40 carrying, adjacent the center thereof, a link 41 pivotally connecting said rod to a crankarm 42 secured to a rock-shaft 43 having hearings in each side frame 10 and 11. The shaft 43 passes through the side frame 10 where the free endoutside the frame is provided with an actuating lever 44 formed with a finger-piece 45 and a tongue 46. A latch 47 pivotally hung upon a screw 48, threaded into T the side of the frame, includes a key 49, a

hook 50 and a spring 51. Depression of the lever 44 rocks the shaft 43 to raise the platensupporting arms 35 to raise the platen-roller 33 into rolling contact with the surface of the cylinder, the rolling contact being maintained by the tongue 46 passing under the hook 50 of the latch 47 as shown in Figure 1. The description of the mechanism up to'this point is similar to the construction disclosed in the patent to Rowley, No. 1,618,309, dated February 22, 1927, where further details of 4 construction may be obtained.

The present invent-ion provides that a gearsector 52, secured to the face of the carrier 24, is operative to swingably engage the teeth of a pinion 53 secured outside the frame 10 to the end of a shaft 54, that takes a bearing through the frame and at the inner free end is provided with a cam-disk 55. The gearsector 52 has a sufficient number of teeth to effect a full rotation of the pinion, the last 'tooth of the sector running out ofengagement with the teeth of the pinion, and to promote a positive entrance of the first tooth 56 ofthe sector 52 in av forward direction, one

of the teeth of the pinion, as 57, is mutilated to allow for a full tooth-engagement between the first tooth 56 and the initial tooth 58 of the pinion. From this description it'will be understood that the rotation of the cylinder from the positionof Figure 1 in a stenciling direction carries the gear-sector 52 through the teeth of the pinion 53, and that when the last tooth of the sector leaves the teeth of the rock-shaft 62 and an arm 63 extending downwardly for purposes presently to appear.

The opposite end of the shaft 59 has an arm- 64 secured thereto between the arm 35 and the side frame 11 to pivotally support the opposite end of the shaft 62. In this manner the shaft 62 may be raised or lowered in parallelism through the actuation of the arm 63 and the bell-crank 60.

Upon the rock-shaft 62 there is supported a plurality of sheet-feeding elements, each element including a hub secured to the shaft, a side wall 65 and an arcuate sector 66 overhanging the hub. The faces of the sectors enter clearance openings 67 in a front papertable 68 and are normally aligned slightly below the top face of the table. To co-operate with the sectors 66 a plurality of idler rollers 69 is mounted upon a stationary rod 7 0 and aligned to the positions of the sectors in any known mannerfor a free rotation upon the rod. The rod 70 may be secured, in a suitable manner, above the forward free end of a paper-deflector 71 secured at the ends to the side frames 10 and 11 and formed with clearance slots to permit the faces of the rollers to dro below the lower face of the de' flector ant slightly above the face of the paper-table 68. Being supported upon the free end of the'defiector provides a certain resiliency for the rollers when the sectors 66 are raised into engagement with the rollers,

to place the rollers under a tension that will vary with the varying thicknesses of worksheets. i

To vibrate the bell-crank to raise the sectors 66 into feeding relation with the rollers 69, the lower end of the arm 63 has a pivotal connection to a pull rod 72 pivotally connected at the opposite end to a cam-actuated arm 73, said rod having a turn buckle for adjust-ment purposes. The cam-actuated arm 73 fulcrums at 74 inside frame 10, and the upper end is provided with a roller 75 en- "ageable by the edge of the cam-disk 55, and is held in rolling or wiping engagement therewith by the overhanging weight of the shaft 62 and the series of sectors 66. The weight of these parts, however, may cause unnecessary friction between the roller 75 and the cam-disk 55, and there is provided a spring 76 connected to the lower end of the arm 73, to counterbalance some of the overhanging weight of the sectors and provide a light, easy transmission from the cam. The cam 55 includes an idle dwell-face 55 for the roller 75 when the supplemental paper-feed is inoperative, and a camming dwell-face 55" vibrates the arm 73 to raise the sectors 66 into operative engagement with the rollers 69.

It will be remembered that the sectors 66 are fast to the rock-shaft 62, and to provide a paper-feeding movement thereto, a crankarm 77 is secured to the rock-shaft 62 inside the side frame 10 and pivotally connected by a link 78 extending rearwardly where the end thereof is pivotally connected to the face of the cam-disk 55. When the cam-disk 55 is rotated one revolution by the pinion 53, said disk becomes a crank-arm and a reciprocable or a to-and-fro movement is conveyed to the link 78, the rearward reciprocation thereof causing the sectors 66 to swing towards the steneiling position and then return during each 0 cle of the cam-disk 55. To restore and ho d the sectors 66 and the pinion 55 at a normal position under tension, a sprin 79 has one end secured to one sector 66 and t e other end secured to an arm on the cross-bar 12, the normal position being determined by the pivotal positions at the two ends of the link entering a straight-line posi tion relatively to the shaft 54.

The initial rotation of the pinion 53 vibrates the arm 73, to vibrate the bell-crank 60, to raise the sectors into feeding engagement with the rollers 69 and then the link 78 becomes effective to rock the shaft 62 to swing the sectors through the sheet-feeding movement-towards the stenciling position. Similarly, on the initial last half of the pinions rotation, the sectors 66 are first lowered out of engagement with the rollers 69, and the link 78 becomes operative to restore the sectors through the joint action of the spring 79 and the pinion 53. In this manner,

the sectors 66 become sheet-feeding elements in one direction and become inoperative to feed in a reverse direction.

Heretofore, where leading-in stop-pins were employed to gage and square a sheet, mechanism connectible to the rotating cylinder was operative in various ways to withdraw the pins from the sheet before any feeding movement of the sheet tool; place. The paper-stops include a stop-member 80 pivotally mounted upon aroclr-shaft 81 that passes through the side walls 65 of all the sectors 66, each stop being provided with a spring 82 flexed to throw a stop-face 83 against the edge of the sector 66, as shown, said stop-face extending slightly above the face of the sector and operative to intercept the edge of the work-sheet when said sheet is first inserted under the rollers 69. A paperstopniember 80 is shown housed within each sector 66 and at the side of each stop a trailing finger 84 is secured to the rocleshaft in a manner that the free end projects beyond the periphery of the sectors. To resiliently hold these fingers in a normal position a springarm 85 is secured to the rock-shaft 81 and held against a stop-pin 86 by a spring 87. One end of the shaft 81 projects through an adjacent wall 65 of an outside sector and upon the end of said shaft there is secured a pawl 88 to rock with the shaft.

When a work-sheet 89 is inserted between the open sheet-feeding elements 66 and 69 with the leading edge square against the stopfaces 83 and with the cylinder 17 at rest against the back stop arm 31, as shown at Figurel, the parts are set for a stenciling movement of the cylinder. An initial movement of the cylinder from the position of Figure 1 to that of Figure t causes the first tooth of the sector 52 to engage the tooth 58 of the pinion 53 to rotate the cam-disk 55, tovibrate the cam-arm 73 and raise the sectors 66 into engagement with the work-sheet under a sheetrfeeding pressure against the rollers 69. The movement of the pinion 53 to effect this coaction between the two sheetfeeding elements has been so slight that no drawing motion has as yet been conveyed to the link 78 nor to the sectors 66. The continued movement of the cylinder to the Figure 5 position closes the feedingelements to feed the work-sheet towards the stenciling position and brings the trailing fingers 84 against the under face of the work-sheet. and the free ends of said fingers are moved flush with the periphery of the sectors, to rock the shaft 81 against the tension of the spring 87 and swing the pawl 88 upwardly to a posi' tion where the free end thereof will pass over stop 90 fixed to the inner face of the adjoining arm 35. The continued rotation of the cylinder to the position of Figure 6 feeds the leading edgeof the work-sheet into the stenoiling position between the cylinder and the lll' roller 53 which, from this point, will jointing the further rotation of the cylinder the.

sector 52 continues to rotate the pinion 53, which reverses the direction of movement for the link 78, and when the last tooth of the sector passes through the teeth of the pinion, the sectors 66 have been restored to normal positions and the tooth 58 has again assumed an operative position to intercept the first tooth 56 of the sector at the next rotation of the cylinder. The restoring movement of the sectors 66 is assisted by the spring 79, which places the connections under a stress through F the straight-line intersection of three pivots,

to prevent accidental displacement of the tooth 58 from its normal position.

During the return swing of the sectors 66 the leading-in stops 83 will be brought into contact with the under face of the work-sheet to be deflected by the sheet, as shown at Figure 7, until the end of the work-sheet has passed them, when the springs 82 will raise and restore the stops against the edge of the sectors 66.

Vhen the cylinder is idly rotated in a stenciling direction without a work-sheet, the sector 52 engages the pinion to rotate the connected parts, as already described, but as there is nothing to engage the trailing fingers 84 to vibrate the shaft 81, the pawl 88 will swing against the stop 90 to arrest any further rotation of the cylinder, It will be noted at Figure 8 that the arrest of the cylinder takes place before the edge of the inked stencil 91 has swung into contact with the platen-roller 33 to soil the surface thereof.

It will be particularly noted that the platenroller is not employed to convey motion to any of the sheet-feeding or feed-controlling parts; that the-possibility of the work-sheet slipping "during, the stenciling movementthrough the slipping of an overloaded friction-driven platen-roller is prevented, and the platen-roller can operate under a greatly reduced tension; that the leading-in paperstops are secured to and movable with the supplemental she'et-feedingelements and require no timing adjustments; and that these paper stops are self-clearing after a feeding movement has been conveyed to the worksheet.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stencilfeeding position for a work-sheet, of sheetfeeding mechanism normally disconnected from the cylinder but connectible with the cylinder, during the initial rotation thereof, to rotate in a stenciling direction and feed the work-sheet to the stencil-feeding position of the cylinder. 2. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a rotary supplemental work-sheet-feeding mechanism normally disconnected from the cylinder and connectible with the cylinder, during the initial rotation of the cvlinder, to feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position, said feeding mechanism including a stationary roller and a sheet-feeding segment driven by the cylinder towards and from the stenciling position. I

3. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a rotary supplemental work-sheet feeding mech anism normally disconnected from the cylinder and operative by the initial rotation of the cylinder to advance a work-sheet to the stenciling position. a

I 4:. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolhng engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a work-sheet feeding mechanism normally disconnected from the cylinder and operable, during the initial rotation thereof, to convey a rotary movement to the feeding mechanism to feed a preadjusted work-sheet into the stenciling position. I

5. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagementtherewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a work-sheet feeding mechanism connected to means rotatable by the cylinder and operable to convey a reciprocable movement to the feeding mechanism to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, said rotatable means including a pinion rotatable by a gear-sector on the rotating cylinder.

6. In a stencilingmachine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a' work-sheet, of a worksheet feeding mechanism connected to means rotatable by the cylinder and operable to convey pinion-driven disk having a reciprocating connection to the sheet-feeding mechanism.

7. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a work-sheet feeding mechanism connected to means rotatable by the cylinder and operable to convey a reciprocable movement to the feeding mechanism to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, said rotatable means including a pinion rotatable one full revolution by a gearsector rotatable with the rotating cvlinder.

8. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a work-sheet feeding mechanism connected to means rotatable by the cylinder and operable to convey a reciprocable movement to the feeding mechanism to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, said rotatable means including a pinion, a crank driven by the pinion, and a connection between the crank and the worksheet feeding mechanism.

9. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling osition for a work-sheet, of a work-sheet eeding mechanism connected to means rotatable by the cylinder and operable to convey a reciprocable movement to the feeding mechanism to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, said rotatable means including a pinion having a mutilated tooth to insure a positive initial engagement with a gear-sector rotatablewith the rotating cylinder.

10. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a' platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a feeding mechanism including sheet-feeding sectors connectible with the cylinder for a reciprocable movement, whereby the peripheral faces of the sectors will engage and feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position during a reciprocation of the sectors towards the stencil ing position.

' V 11: Ina stenciling machine, the combinationwith a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a feeding mechanism including sheet-feeding sectors connectible with the rotating cylinder for a to-and-fro movement, said sectorshaving peripheral faces operative in one direction to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and means operable by the rotation o the cylinder to render the feeding sectors in operative to feed in a reverse direction.

12. In a stenciling machine, the combina tion with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylin I der having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stencil ing position for a work-sheet, of a feeding mechanism including pivoted sheet-feeding sectors connectible with the rotating cylinder for a to-and-fro swinging movement, said sectors having areuate paper-feeding surfaces opcrable to advance the work-sheet in a straight line to the stenciling position, and means actuated by the rotating cylinder to predetermine the feeding direction of the sectors.

13. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stencil ing position for a work-sheet, of a supplemental work-sheet feeding mechanism intermittently connectible to the rotating cylinder to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position and then become inactive while the rotating cylinder completes a full stenciling rotation.

14. In a stencilin machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a reciprd cable work-sheet feeding mechanism opera-- tively connectible to the cylinder to feed a I work-sheet to the stenciling position, and 10'. gages reciprocable with the feeding mecha nism and operative to gage the leading-in edge of the work-sheet to the feeding mecha- ,IIISIII.

15. In a stenciling machine, the combina- 141:, tion with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a work-sheet feeding mechanism connected to means rotat- 1m able by the cylinder and operable to convey a reciprocable movement to the feeding mechanism to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and means carried by the sheet-feeding mechanism that normally is o erative to ar- 1m rest the rotation of the cylin er in advance of the stenciling position when rotated without a work-sheet.

16. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylin- 12o der having a platen-roller always in.ro ling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of feeding mechanism actuated by the rotation of'the cylinder to feed a work-sheet to the stencil- 12b ing position, a back stop for determining a normal position for the cylinder, and a vibratory forward stop carried by the feeding mechanism and operative to arrest the cylinder when the latter is rotated forwardly without a worksheet, said forward stop projecting from the feeding mechanism into the path of the feeding work-sheet to be vibrated, thereby to release the cylinder.

17. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of feeding means actuated by'the rotation of the cylinder to feed a work-sheet to the stenciling position, a back stop for determining a normal position for the cylinder, and a forward stop carried by the feeding means and normally operative to arrest the forward rotation of the cylinder, but controlled by the feedingin work-sheet to release the cylinder for a full stenciling movement.

18. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenoiling position for a work-sheet, of a reciprocable feeding mechanism normally inoperative to feed a work-sheet, actuating mechanism for the feeding mechanism connectible to the rotatable cylinder, and means connectible to the cylinder-actuated mechanism and operable thereby to render the feeding mechanism operative during a reciprocation thereof in one direction, to feed the work sheet to the stenciling position. i

.19. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a Work-sheet, of a reciprocable feeding mechanism normally inoperative to feed a work-sheet, actuating mechanism for the feeding mechanism connectible to the rotatable cylinder, and means connectible to the cylinder-actuated mechanism and operable thereby to render the feeding mechanism operative during a reciprocation thereof in one direction, to-feed the worksheet to the stenciling position, said means including a cam-actuated carrier operable to render the feeding mechanism operative to feed a worksheet.

20. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a recipro cable feeding mechanism normally inoperative to feed a work-sheet, actuating mechanism for the feeding mechanism connectible to the rotatable cylinder, and means connectible to the cylinder-actuated mechanism and operable thereby to render the feeding mechanism operative during a reciprocation thereof in one direction, to feed the worksheet to the stenciling position, said means including a vibratory carrier for the feeding mechanism and cam-actuated connections between the carrierand the cylinder-actuated mechanism.

21. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a recipro cable feeding mechanism normally inoperative to feed a work-sheet, actuating mechanism for the feeding mechanism and con-- nectible to the rotatable cylinder, and mechanism connectible to the cylinder-actuated mechanism and operable to render the sheetfeeding mechanism alternately operative and inoperative at each complete reciprocation of said sheet-feeding mechanism.

22. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of a reciprocable mechanism operative to feed the worksheet to the stenciling position, driving mechanism for the sheet-feeding mechanism rotatable by means on thecylinder, and intermediate mechanism operative to transform the rotary movement of the driving mechanism into a reciprocable movement for the sheet-feeding mechanism.

23. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for the work-sheet, work-sheet feed ing mechanism operatively connected to the cylinder to advance a sheet to the stenciling position, and leading-in gages carried by the sheet-feeding mechanism that are operative to gage the work-sheet to the feeding means and automatically separate themselves from the sheet after the work-sheet has advanced towards the stenciling position.

24. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement therewith to establish a stenciling position for the work-sheet, Work-sheet feedlng mechanism operatively connected to the cylinder to advance a sheet to the stenciling position, and leading-in gages carried by the sheet-feeding mechanism that are operative to gage the work-sheet to the feeding means and movable with the feedingmeans to clear themselves from the feeding work-sheet.

25. In a stenciling machine including a stenciling cylinder having a free rotary movement between a normal stop-position and a stenciling stop-position, the combination of supplemental feeding mechanism operative to advance a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and mechanism carried by the the cylinder for a full stenciling rotation.

26. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always 1n operat ve engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame, driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder.

27. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a. platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feedlng a work-sheet t0 the stenciling position, and means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame and a gear-sea tor on the cylinder operable to engage and disengage with the pinion to convey a full revolution to the pinion.

28. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil'carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operat ve engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, in cluding a pinion on the frame driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder proportioned to impart a full revolution to the pinion.

29. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frameand a gear-sector on the cylinder, said gear-sector being conditioned to enter and pass out of engagement with the teeth of the pinion before the feeding means carries the work-sheet to the stenciling position.

30. In a'stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, and means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, in-

eluding a pinion on the frame and a gearsector on the cylinder, said gear-sector being conditioned to enter and pass out of engagcment with the teeth of the pinion before the feeding means carries the work-sheet to the stenciling position, said pinion having a mutilated tooth to ensure the entrance of the sector to the teeth of the pinion.

31. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen'roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a gear-sector rotatable with the cylinder, a pinion on the frame rotatable by the sector, a shaft rotated by the pinion, a crankmembcr rotated by the shaft, and a link connecting the crank-member to the feeding mechanism, whereby a reciprocable movement is conveyed to the feeding n'iechanism during each revolution of the pinion.

32. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder,

including a gear-sector rotatable with the cylinder, a pinion on the frame rotatable by the sector, a shaft rotated by the pinion, a crank-member rotated by the shaft, a link connecting the crank-member to the feeding mechanism whereby a reciprocable movement is conveyed to the feeding mechanism during each revolution of the pinion, and means co-operative with the rotation of the crank-member to render the feeding mechanism operative to feed the work-sheet during the forward reciprocation of the feeding mechanism by the crank-member.

33. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a geanscctor rotatable with the cylinder, a pinion on the frame rotatable by the sector, a shaft rotated by the pinion, a crank-member rotated by the shaft,

III"

a link connecting the crank-member to the feeding mechanis whereby a reciprocable movement is conveyed to the feeding mechanism during each revolution of the pinion, and cammning mechanism co-operative with the rotation of the crank-member and operable to vibrate the sheet-feeding mechanism into feeding relation with the work-sheet during the forward reciprocationof the feeding mechanism by the crank-member.

34. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establishthe stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a gear-sector rotatable with the cylinder, a pinion on the frame rotatable by the sector, a shaft rotated by the pinion, a crank-member rotated by the shaft, a link connecting the crank-member to the feeding mechanism, whereby a. reciprocable movement is conveyed to the feeding mechanism during each revolution of the pinion, and camming mechanism'co-operative with the rotation of the crank-member and operable during a single rotation of the pinion to first vibrate the feeding mechanism to feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position and then release the fed-in sheet to the feeding movement of the cylinder and platen-roller.

35. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencilcarrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position,

I means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a gear-sector rotatable with the cylinder, a pinion onthe frame rotatable by the sector, a shaft rotated by the pinion, a crankmember rotated by the shaft, a link connecting the crank-member to the feeding mechanism, whereby a reciprocable movement is conveyed to the feeding mechanism during each revolution of the pinion, and camming mechanism co-operative with the rotation of the crank-member and operable during a single rotation of the pinion to first vibrate the feeding mechanism to feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position and then release the fed-in sheet to the feeding movement of the cylinder and platen-roller, said camming mechanism including a cam-arm and an adj ustable connection to vibrate the sheet-feeding'mechanism.

36. In a stenciling machine, the combina-.

tion with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided'with a platen-roller alwa in operative engagement with the cylin er to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder proportioned to impart a full revolution to the pinion. and spring-pressed means operable to maintain the teeth of the pinion in a predetermined fixed relation to the teeth of the cylinder.

37. In a stencilin machine, the combination with a rotatabIe stenciLcarrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and pro: vided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to estab lish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating'the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder to convey a single revolution to the pinion, and means connecting the rotatable pinion and sheetfeeding mechanism that is operable as a back stop for both the feeding mechanism and the pinion.

38. ,In a stenciling machine, the combination with arotatable stencil-carrying cylin der having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement. with the cylinder toestablish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder to convey a single revolution to the pinion, and a link connecting the rotatable pinion and sheetfeeding mechanism that becomes operable, through the alignment of its pivots to the axis of the pinion, as a back stop for both the feeding mechanism and the rotatable pinion.

39. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to' the stenciling posimechanism and the rotatable pinion, and a spring operable to resiliently hold the alignment of the link to the pinion during the stenciling operation.

40. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establlsh the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling posit on, means for actuating the feeding mechanlsm during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder to convey a single revolution to the pinion, a link connecting the rotatable pinion and sheet-feeding mechanism that becomes operable, through the alignment of its pivots to the axis of the pinion, as a back stop for both the feeding mechanism and the rotatable pinion, and a spring operable to assist the rotating pinion in restoring the feeding mechanism to a normal stop position.

41. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a free initial rotary movement in advance of a stenciling position and provided with a platen-roller always in operative engagement with the cylinder to establish the stenciling position, of mechanism for feeding a work-sheet to the stenciling position, means for actuating the feeding mechanism during the free rotation of the cylinder, including a pinion on the frame driven by a gear-sector on the cylinder to convey a single revolution to the pinion, a link connecting the rotatable pinion and sheet-feeding mechanism that becomes operable, through the alignment of its pivots to the axis of the pinion, as a back stop for both the feeding mechanism and the rotatable pinion. and a spring operable to positively hold the feeding mechanism at a fixed normal stop position and hold the pinion in a predetermined state of equipoise for the engagement with the sector.

42. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in sheetfeeding engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of sheet-feeding mechanism normally disconnected from the cylinder but connectible therewith, during the initial rotation of means carried by the cylinder, to effect the feeding of the sheet to the stenciling position.

43. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in sheetfeeding engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, ofsheet-feeding'mechanism normally disconnected from the cylinder but connectible therewith during the initial rotation of means carried by the cylinder, to effect the feedin of the sheet to the stenciling position, sai sheet-feeding mechanism including an idle roller and a vibratory co-operative sector actuated by connections to the cylinder.

44. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying c linder having a platen-roller always in s eetfeeding engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a worksheet, of sheet-feeding mechanism normally disconnected from the cylinder but connectible therewith, during the initial rotation of means carried by the cylinder, to effect the feeding of the sheet to the stenciling position, said sheet-feeding mechanism including an idle roller and a sector normally separated therefrom for the insertion of the sheet, and operable by the cylinder to co-operate with the roller and become operative to feed the work-sheet a predetermined extent.

45. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of worksheet-feeding mechanism including a rotary sector operatively connectible to the cylinder to feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position, and a gage carried by the sector'and operative at a normal position to gage the leading-in edge of the work-sheet to the sheetfeeding mechanism and to the sheet-stencilm0 ing position.

46. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of worksheet-feeding mechanism including a rotary sector operatively connectible tothe cylinder to feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position, and a gage carried by the sector and operative at a normal position to gage the leading-in edge of the work-sheet to the sheetfeeding mechanism and to the sheet-stenciling position, said gage, by its swing with the sector, automatically disappearing from the path of the work-sheet to the stenciling position.

47. In a stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylinder having a platen-roller always in rolling engagement with the cylinder to establish a stenciling position for a work-sheet, of worksheet-feeding mechanism including .a rotary sector operatively connectible to the cylinder to feed the work-sheet to the stenciling position, and a' gage carried by the sector and operative at a normal position to gage the leading-in edge of the work-sheet to the sheet-feeding mechanism and to the sheetstenciling position, said gage, by its swin dul'lng the feeding of the work-sheet b the sector, automatically withdrawing from the leading-in edge of the feeding Work-sheet.

48. In a stenciling machine, the combina: tion with a rotatable stencil-carrying cylin- 5 der having a platen-roller always in sheetfeeding engagement with the cylinder to establish a steneiling position for a work-sheet, of sheet-feeding means normally inoperatation thereof in a stenciling direction, to rotate the feeding means and feed the work sheet to be stenciled.

LINDEN A. THATCHER. 

